__________________

Dear Lord in Heaven, I am standing in prayer for Abdul and his family and praying Thy hand over their lives. May Abdul be protected and given religious sanction. Bless President Bush and others in advocating their voice for religious freedoms there. This is a hot issue in their world and has fired up much emotion. I am still standing for religious tolerance and oppression to be brought down over this and in other nations of the world. May Abdul's family not be persecuted for their son's choice. This nation needs a miracle of conversion to the one true and only God, or coming as far to allow others to believe as their conscience dictates. I pray for good to come out of this and angels to protect Abdul and his family, in Jesus Holy name amen.

__________________
Prayer & faith changes things!

Lord, bring religious freedom to Afghanistan and all Muslim countires. I pray that You will bring them to understand that their religion holds them in bondage. And let them know that You are The Anointed One who came to set the captives free. I ask that You will send slvation to this and all Islamic nations.

I pray that all cahrges against Abdul are dropped. I thank You for his strong faith, and I pray this is a witness to those who want to see him executed. I Your love and forgiveness will flow through him towards them, and that this will be a great witness as well. Save all those who accuse him. Lord God, turn this situation that the devil meant for evil for good. Put protection around Abdul's family, and rather than reject him, let them be saved as well.

In Jesus Name, I ask adn pray, amen.

~JeriRose~
Finding YOU in 2006

__________________
24 But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:24)

I pray for Abdul Rahman as well. I am in his same situation, where I converted from Muslim to Christianity. But in my country, they have strict rules as well, except due to many religion staying together, they can't execute us. I feel empathy for countries which does such stupid force on their people! They don't gain honesty in religion matters. They use force!

Dear Lord, grant that Abdul Rahman is given his rights to worship and love you, Saviour. For you are the ultimate destiny of our lives. Satan is ruling this world even greater thru the Islam religion. They can't conquer our spirit and soul, Jesus. Give Abdul Rahman your strength and courage to face this difficult time. And Save Him, Lord Jesus, for Abdul Rahman is your child!

Amen! Amen! Amen!

Nadia

Dear Heavenly Father, I join in pleading the case for Your child Abdul Rahman who is confessing to the world his faith in You through Jesus Christ. As we specifically pray for his life to be spared and for him to be released to safety, we pray that no other Christians in Afghanistan will be persecuted by their government. We pray for Nadia and her fellow Christians in Malaysia and for those persecuted for their beliefs everywhere. In the blessed name of Jesus, Amen.

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www . hendersonvillenews . com/apps/pbcs . dll/article?AID=/20060325/API/603250544
Pressure Grows to Free Afghan Convert

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www . persecution . com/news/index . cfm?action=fullstory&newsID=386
AFGHANISTAN: Apostasy Case Reminds Christians to Pray for Nation
March 23, 2006
The Voice of the Martyrs
The ongoing trial in Kabul of Abdul Rahman, a 41-year-old Afghan Christian, reminds Americans that though Afghanistan has been freed from Taliban control, true freedom of worship does not exist there. He faces a possible death sentence for converting to Christianity.
Rahman reportedly became a Christian 16 years ago while working with a Christian aid group in Pakistan. His conversion became public because of a custody dispute involving his two daughters.
Recent media reports suggest that charges against Rahman may be dropped due to questions about his mental fitness for trial. VOM sources say that he has suffered from depression in the past. The mental issues may give the Afghan legal system a face-saving way out in a case that has drawn international attention and criticism.
The new Constitution of Afghanistan proclaims that "followers of other religions (other than Islam) are free to exercise their faith and perform their religious rites within the limits of the provisions of law." But the same document declares that, "the religion of the state is the sacred religion of Islam," and that Sharia Law is the controlling legal authority.
“In the United States, we talk about the separation of church and state,” said Todd Nettleton, Director of News Services for The Voice of the Martyrs. “But in an Islamic country there is no separation. Islam controls not just religion, but also politics, legal issues and all of life. And Islamic law simply does not allow a person to leave Islam and follow another faith.”
VOM contacts estimate that there are between 1,000 and 3,000 born-again Christians in Afghanistan, and say other Christians are watching Rahman’s case closely. Compass Direct has reported that two more Christians have been arrested since Rahman’s story broke, and a third was beaten badly.
“The Afghan government recognizes that Afghans can be Hindus, and can be Sikhs, and in one case even recognizes they can be Jewish,” said Nettleton. “But they do not recognize Afghan Christians. Our brothers and sisters there have no legal standing, and that has got to change. American soldiers didn’t go to Afghanistan and lay down their lives so that Christians could be persecuted; they fought and died so that Afghans could truly have freedom.”
The Voice of the Martyrs encourages American Christians to pray for Abdul Rahman, and other believers in Afghanistan. In addition, Christians should write their representatives in the U.S. government to ask them to press for Rahman’s release. Finally, polite letters of protest can be addressed to the Afghan ambassador to the United States at the following address:
Said T. Jawad
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Afghanistan
Embassy of Afghanistan
2341 Wyoming Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: 202.483.6410
Fax: 202.483.6488
E-mail: Info at embassyofafghanistan . org
“Our hope is that this case and the attention it generates will lead Christians around the world to pray for revival in Afghanistan,” said Nettleton.

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From: Jay Sekulow Chief Counsel
Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2006 (EXCERPT)
Subject: ACLJ Breaking News

WASHINGTON, March 23, 2006-The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) is sending a letter today to Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai and the Afghan Ambassador to the United States Said T. Jawad-along with copies to United States officials including President Bush-urging them to free 41-year-old Abdul Rahman, an Afghan man who may be put to death for converting to Christianity.
The ACLJ is working in conjunction with its affiliated organization in Europe, the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), in Strasbourg, France. The ACLJ and ECLJ contend that Afghanistan must comply with its own constitution and international law, which protects religious freedom, including the right to change one's religious beliefs.
''Executing or imprisoning a person solely because of his religious beliefs violates the Afghan constitution as well as international law and would set a dangerous precedent for future religious prosecution worldwide,'' said ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow. ''The thought of a convert to Christianity being put to death for his religious beliefs is intolerable. We call on the Afghan government to drop the criminal charges against Abdul Rahman and to set him free without delay.''
In the letter (posted online at www . aclj . org/media/pdf/AmbassadorPDF . pdf ), Sekulow provides a detailed legal analysis that concludes the criminal proceedings against Abdul Rahman violate both the Afghan constitution and international law.
Article 7 of the Afghan constitution ensures that Abdul Rahman and others like him enjoy ''the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion . . . [which] includes freedom to change his religion or belief.'' The Afghan constitution also states that: ''The state shall abide by the U.N. Charter, international treaties, international conventions that Afghanistan has signed, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.''
Under the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18 states: ''Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance.''
In addition to sending the letter to the Afghan President and Afghan Ambassador to the United States, the ACLJ also is sending a copy of the letter to President Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and members of Congress.
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) is the nation's leading national public interest law firm defending religious liberty. Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the ACLJ specializes in constitutional law and is based in Washington, D.C. Visit the ACLJ's online newsroom at www . aclj . org/News.

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cnn . netscape . cnn . com/news/story . jsp?idq=/ff/story/0001/20060323/1518681675 . htm
Afghan Clerics Demand Convert Be Killed
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Senior Muslim clerics demanded Thursday that an Afghan man on trial for converting from Islam to Christianity be executed, warning that if the government caves in to Western pressure and frees him, they will incite people to "pull him into pieces.''
In an unusual move, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned President Hamid Karzai on Thursday seeking a "favorable resolution'' of the case of Abdul Rahman. The 41-year-old former medical aid worker faces the death penalty under Afghanistan's Islamic laws for becoming a Christian.
His trial has fired passions in this conservative Muslim nation and highlighted a conflict of values between Afghanistan and its Western backers.
"Rejecting Islam is insulting God. We will not allow God to be humiliated. This man must die,'' said cleric Abdul Raoulf, who is considered a moderate and was jailed three times for opposing the Taliban before the hard-line regime was ousted in 2001.
The trial, which began last week, has caused an international outcry. President Bush has said he is "deeply troubled'' by the case and expects the country to "honor the universal principle of freedom.''
Rice spokesman Sean McCormack said she told Karzai it is important for the Afghan people to know that freedom of religion is observed in their country. But in deference to the country's sovereignty, Rice evidently did not demand specifically that the trial be halted and the defendant released.
"This is clearly an Afghan decision,'' McCormack said. "They are a sovereign country.''
Still, Rice's direct appeal to a foreign leader in a judicial proceeding in their own country is an unusual move.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters she had received assurances from Karzai in a telephone call that Rahman would not be sentenced to death.
"I have the impression that he (Karzai) has a firm willingness'' to abide by the human rights requirements, Merkel said going into pre-European Union summit talks. "I hope we will be able to resolve this.''
Diplomats have said the Afghan government is searching for a way to drop the case. On Wednesday, authorities said Rahman is suspected of being mentally ill and would undergo psychological examinations to see whether he is fit to stand trial.
But three Sunni preachers and a Shiite one interviewed by The Associated Press in four of Kabul's most popular mosques said they do not believe Rahman is insane.
"He is not crazy. He went in front of the media and confessed to being a Christian,'' said Hamidullah, chief cleric at Haji Yacob Mosque.
"The government is scared of the international community. But the people will kill him if he is freed.''
Raoulf, who is a member of the country's main Islamic organization, the Afghan Ulama Council, agreed. "The government is playing games. The people will not be fooled.''
"Cut off his head!'' he exclaimed, sitting in a courtyard outside Herati Mosque. "We will call on the people to pull him into pieces so there's nothing left.''
He said the only way for Rahman to survive would be for him to go into exile.
But Said Mirhossain Nasri, the top cleric at Hossainia Mosque, one of the largest Shiite places of worship in Kabul, said Rahman must not be allowed to leave the country.
"If he is allowed to live in the West, then others will claim to be Christian so they can too,'' he said. "We must set an example. ... He must be hanged.''
The clerics said they were angry with the United States and other countries for pushing for Rahman's freedom.
"We are a small country and we welcome the help the outside world is giving us. But please don't interfere in this issue,'' Nasri said. "We are Muslims and these are our beliefs. This is much more important to us than all the aid the world has given us.''
Afghanistan's constitution is based on Shariah law, which is interpreted by many Muslims to require that any Muslim who rejects Islam be sentenced to death.
Hamidullah warned that if the government frees Rahman, "there will be an uprising'' like one against Soviet occupying forces in the 1980s.
"The government will lose the support of the people,'' he said. "What sort of democracy would it be if the government ignored the will of all the people.''
Meanwhile, human rights group Amnesty International said if Rahman has been detained solely for his religious beliefs, he would be a "prisoner of conscience.''
"The charges against him should be dropped and if necessary he should be protected against any abuses within the community,'' the London-based group said in a statement.
Rahman is believed to have lived in Germany for nine years after converting to Christianity while working as a medical aid worker for an international Christian group helping Afghan refugees in Pakistan. He returned to Kabul in 2002.
It was not immediately clear when Rahman's trial will resume. Authorities have barred attempts by the AP to see him and he is not believed to have a lawyer.
03/23/06

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From: "Citizen Link" <citizenlink at FAMILY . ORG>
Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 (EXCERPT)
Subject: Daily Update

AFGHANI CHRISTIAN FACES DEATH PENALTY FOR CONVERSION
Freedom of religion is at stake.
www . family . org/cforum/news/a0039915 . cfm
America led a coalition to free Afghanistan from the repressive Taliban. Now the concept of freedom of religion is at stake.
Four years after the U.S. led a coalition to liberate Afghanistan from the Islamic-fundamentalist dictatorship of the Taliban, an Afghani Christian finds himself on trial for his faith in the nation's capital of Kabul.
If convicted, he could face a death sentence for his "crime."....
Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony Perkins is calling on American leaders to intervene to save Rahman. "That there should even be such a trial is an outrage," he said. "How can we congratulate ourselves for liberating Afghanistan from the rule of jihadists only to be ruled by radical Islamists who kill Christians?"...."Americans will not give their blood and treasure to prop up new Islamic-fundamentalist regimes. Religious freedom is not just an important element of democracy; it is its cornerstone. Religious persecution leads inevitably to political tyranny. Five hundred years of history confirm this. Americans have not given their lives so that Christians can be put to death."
....Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs said trials for those who convert to Christianity are, sadly, not new in Muslim nations. The basic problem in this case is Afghanistan 's new constitution.
"That constitution, in one part, says that followers of religions other than Islam are free to exercise their faith, and they are free to practice their faith in the way they see fit," Nettleton said. "But it also says in the constitution that the overarching authority is Islamic law, and Islamic law says, 'If you leave Islam, you are an apostate, and you should be killed.' "
Dr. Walid Phares, a senior fellow with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and an expert on terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism, agreed there have been many cases in Saudi Arabia , Egypt and Pakistan over the last 30 years similar to what is happening in Afghanistan .
Shariah, or Islamic law, has banned conversion of Muslims to non-Muslim religions since the seventh century, Phares said. The radical fringe of Islam is pushing for the worldwide implementation of Shariah, although not all Muslim nations actually enforce the conversion provision.
"When the fundamentalists are either in charge of the government, or very influential in a particular Muslim country, it puts a lot of pressure on the government," Phares told CitizenLink.
Nettleton, meanwhile, said the Afghani court — pressed by fundamentalists on one side and Western nations on the other — may be looking for a way to save face. News sources have reported the judge is close to ruling that Rahman is mentally unstable.
"My understanding is that Abdul Rahman has in the past suffered from clinical depression," Nettleton said. "That is providing the Afghan legal system with a way to save face and make this case go away....
There are an estimated 1,000 born-again Christians in Afghanistan -- none of whom has legal standing under the country's code of law.
TAKE ACTION: 1. Please take time to pray for Abdul Rahman -- that he will stand firm in his faith and be protected.
Pray also for the Church in Afghanistan.
2. Please contact President Bush and your members of Congress, and remind them that American soldiers -- many of them Christians -- paid the ultimate price to liberate Afghanistan, and they did not do that so that Christians could be killed. For contact information, visit the CitizenLink Action Center and type your ZIP code into the space provided. www 3 . capwiz . com/fof/dbq/officials/
3. Please write and e-mail polite letters to the Embassy of Afghanistan asking it to look into the matter. Express your concerns to President Karzai's government. Be respectful....but do express the fact that you are concerned about a Christian brother who is on trial. Ask the Afghanis why he is on trial, and remind them that their new constitution says people have freedom to practice their religion, yet this man is on trial for doing just that."
Embassy of Afghanistan
2341 Wyoming Ave NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
Telephone: 202-483-6410
E-mail: Info at embassyofafghanistan . org


Sent: Friday, March 24, 2006 (EXCERPT)
Subject: Daily Update

Afghani Christian Facing Death May Be Released
....Western and Middle Eastern news agencies reported today that an Afghani Christian on trial for converting from Islam will apparently be released in the coming days.
"He is likely to be released soon," an unnamed Afghan official said today, adding there would be a top-level meeting on the matter Saturday.
The news was confirmed by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who said Afghanistan's president, Hamid Karzai, personally assured him that Abdul Rahman...will not be put to death....
American officials expressed relief.
"I'm encouraged by the news," U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., told CitizenLink today....
DeMint, who in recent days joined colleagues in advocating for Rahman's release, praised Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for working behind the scenes on the man's behalf....
Earlier today, at a rally in front of the Afghani embassy in Washington, D.C., Bill Saunders, human rights counsel at the Family Research Council, pleaded for Rahman's life.
"There is not a more fundamental principle to Americans than the freedom of religion," he said. "This is about more than Abdul Rahman. This is about ensuring the basic human rights of all Abdul Rahmans."
Robert Spencer, author of the "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam," said the idea that a Muslim might be executed for converting to another faith is not some extremist view of radical fringe Islamic extremists. It's a central tenet of the Muslim faith.
"It's not a surprising thing that Rahman would face a death penalty given traditional Islamic law that mandates death for anybody who leaves Islam," Spencer said. "It's based on the words of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, himself, who said, 'If anyone changes his religion, kill him.' "
There is a fundamental difference, Spencer added, between Christianity and Islam when it comes to concepts like justice and mercy....
DeMint, meanwhile, said this is not the first time Shariah law has come up against international law, and he called on Muslim leaders around the world to "step up to the plate" and demonstrate to the world that they will allow religious freedom.
"It is clear that the Muslims are settling in all countries, including the United States, and they are expecting religious freedom where they are," he said. "But in many places where Muslims are in charge -- especially in charge of the government -- they are not granting those same freedoms.

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From: info at christianfreedom . org
Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 (EXCERPT)
Subject: Persecuted Christian in Afghanistan not an Isolate

The persecution of Christians is on the increase around the world
FRONT ROYAL, VIRGINIA --- In a letter to President Bush, Christian Freedom International urged for the immediate release of Abdur Rahman, a man who is in prison for his faith in Afghanistan. Rahman faces the death penalty because he converted to Christianity.
"Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident," said Christian Freedom International President Jim Jacobson. "The persecution of Christians is an increasing, unintended consequence of the War on Terror. Minority Christians face severe and growing persecution in many Islamic nations including Indonesia, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and elsewhere. This must be condemned at the highest levels wherever and whenever it occurs."
"The arrest and imprisonment of Mr. Rahman for converting to Christianity is a cause of major concern for all freedom-loving people, but it is the tip of the iceberg," said Jacobson. "His case is one of the few times in recent history the 'mainstream media' actually covered a story on Christian persecution."
"While we want Mr. Rahman to go free, there are thousands of other persecuted Christians in Islamic nations just like him," said Jacobson. "Becoming a Christian should not be considered a crime in Afghanistan or elsewhere."
Christian Freedom International is a grass roots human rights organization dedicated to helping persecuted Christians. For more information or interviews, contact Christian Freedom International at 540-636-8907 or online at www . christianfreedom . org.

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www . uscirf . gov/mediaroom/press/2006/march/03222006_AfghanHR . html
Afghanistan: USCIRF Letter to President Bush on Apostasy Trial
March 22, 2006
Contact: Anne Johnson, Director of Communications, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) wrote to President George W. Bush expressing its concern about the trial and threatened execution of Afghan citizen Mr. Abdur Rahman for apostasy. The Commission has previously noted that the absence of a guarantee of the right to religious freedom in Afghanistan’s constitution, together with a judicial system structured to enforce Islamic principles and Islamic law, leaves the door open for a harsh, unfair, or even abusive interpretation of religious orthodoxy to be officially imposed on all Afghans, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, potentially leading to unjust criminal accusations of apostasy and blasphemy.
Like Iraq, Afghanistan presents a unique set of circumstances—and a special responsibility—to U.S. foreign policy because the United States has been directly involved in nation-building and political reconstruction. The arrest of Mr. Rahman indicates that religious extremists still have significant influence in Kabul, threatening not just the religious freedom of this one man, but the fundamental rights of each and every Afghan citizen. We believe that it is the obligation of our government to act vigorously on his behalf.
The U.S. government should press the Karzai government to allow for free manifestation of religious belief and debate on critical human rights issues, and should urge that Mr. Rahman is immediately freed and the charges dismissed. In addition, President Bush should encourage Mr. Karzai to take substantive steps to address the rule of law deficit which permeates Afghanistan’s judiciary. By ensuring that well-trained judges are appointed to the country’s courts, the judiciary can serve as a stabilizing force for protecting human rights and the country’s nascent democracy.
The text of the letter to President Bush follows:
Dear Mr. President:
We are writing to express our concern about the trial and threatened execution of Mr. Abdur Rahman, an Afghan citizen who was arrested last month in Kabul after his family accused him of changing his religion. He was charged last Thursday by a public prosecutor in Afghanistan with the offense of rejecting Islam. Under Afghanistan’s sharia law, Mr. Rahman may face the death penalty if found guilty of apostasy. Already, the prosecutor in Mr. Rahman’s case, Mr. Abdul Wasi, has called the defendant “a microbe [who] should be cut off and removed from the rest of Muslim society and should be killed.” The judge overseeing the trial has publicly affirmed that if Mr. Rahman does not return to Islam, “the punishment will be enforced on him, and the punishment is death.”
On several previous occasions, the Commission has raised concern that the Afghan constitution’s failure to include adequate guarantees of freedom of religion and expression for members of the country’s majority Muslim community could lead to unjust criminal accusations of apostasy and blasphemy. With no guarantee of the right to religious freedom for all individuals, together with a judicial system instructed to enforce Islamic principles and Islamic law, the door is open for a harsh, unfair, or even abusive interpretation of religious orthodoxy to be officially imposed, violating numerous human rights and stifling political dissent for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
The omission of religious freedom guarantees in the Afghan constitution is compounded by a repugnancy clause that states that “no law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of Islam.” The constitution also provides under Article 130 that “When there is no provision in the Constitution or the law with respect to a case under consideration, the court shall follow the provisions of the Hanafi jurisprudence.”
This case confirms that fundamental democratic rights and freedoms—and particularly those rights related to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief—are still under threat in Afghanistan. Moreover, it follows several similar events in Afghanistan, including: the filing of formal blasphemy charges in 2002 against then-Minister of Women’s Affairs Dr. Sima Samar; the effort by Supreme Court Chief Justice Fazl Hadi Shinwari to disqualify a presidential election candidate for purportedly “anti-Islamic” remarks in 2004; and most recently, in October 2005, the arrest and trial of journalist Ali Mohaqiq Nasab on charges of blasphemy and “insulting Islam.”
The Commission has for many years urged the U.S. government to press the government of Afghanistan to ensure that all citizens of Afghanistan are protected from spurious accusations of blasphemy or similar charges, are allowed to peacefully discuss the appropriate role of Islam in Afghan law and society, and are allowed to freely dissent from prevailing views and beliefs. The case of Mr. Abdur Rahman clearly puts to the test the Karzai government’s commitment to abide by its international human rights obligations, as provided in Afghanistan’s constitution.
The U.S. government should press the Karzai government to reject such undemocratic practices, allow for free manifestation of religious belief and debate on critical human rights issues, and urge that Mr. Rahman is immediately freed and the charges dismissed. Moreover, this case creates a critical opportunity to encourage Mr. Karzai to take substantive steps to address the rule of law deficit which permeates Afghanistan’s judiciary. By ensuring that well-trained judges are appointed to the country’s courts, the judiciary can serve as a stabilizing force for protecting human rights and the country’s nascent democracy.
Mr. President, like Iraq, Afghanistan presents a unique set of circumstances—and a special responsibility—to our foreign policy because the United States has been directly involved in nation-building and political reconstruction. The U.S. government has been working with the Afghan government to develop democratic political systems that will break from the experiences of the previous regime. Yet, the arrest of Mr. Rahman indicates that religious extremists still have significant influence in Kabul, threatening not just the religious freedom of this one man, but the fundamental rights of each and every Afghan citizen. We believe that it is the obligation of our government to act vigorously on his behalf.
Respectfully,
Michael Cromartie
Chair

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From: ConservativeAlertscom
Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 (EXCERPT)
Subject: [ALERT] Help Save a Christian's Life in Afghanistan
Sixteen years ago, Abdul Rahman, a Muslim from Afghanistan, converted to Christianity while living in Pakistan.
Six years later, the murderous Taliban took power in Afghanistan. Under their oppressive Islamofascist rule, those promoting Christianity in that country could be arrested...and anyone actually converting from Islam could be tortured and publicly exectued.
In 2001, one month after the 9/11 attacks, American and allied forces liberated the people of Afghanistan in "Operation Enduring Freedom," marking the beginning of the War on Terror. The Taliban's religious repression was gone, and Abdul Rahman moved back home.
Last month, he was arrested by Afghan authorities for converting from Islam... and now faces the death penalty.
You read that right: in the country we liberated, they're preparing to execute a man for converting from Islam to Christianity.
Is this the "Enduring Freedom" our troops sacrificed so much for? Of course not -- something MUST be done to prevent this travesty.
Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA) has written to the government of Afghanistan, saying, "In a country where soldiers from all faiths, including Christianity, are dying in defense of your government, I find it outrageous that Mr. Rahman is being prosecuted and facing the death penalty for converting to Christianity." Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah says that the Afghan Embassy in Washington had received "hundreds of messages" on the issue.
Obviously, IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
We need to join OUR voices together to protest this OUTRAGE of religious persecution. Click below NOW to send a message directly to the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington, D.C., demanding that President Hamid Karzai STOP these proceedings against Abdul Rahman, and move to ensure TRUE freedom of religion in this new democratic republic: capwiz . com/sicminc/issues/alert/?alertid=8612221&type=CU
NOTE: The name "Abdul Rahman" is Arabic for "Servant of the Merciful". Abdul refuses to renounce his beliefs, responding "I am a Christian and I believe in Jesus Christ." Doesn't he deserve the support of ALL of us who cherish freedom?
Be sure to send this Alert to EVERYONE you know who wants to help save the life of a Christian in Afghanistan. Thank you!
Sincerely,
William Greene, President
RightMarch . com

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www . foxnews . com/story/0,2933,188903,00 . html
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Clerics Call for Christian Convert's Death Despite Western Outrage

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www . foxnews . com/story/0,2933,188936,00 . html
Rice Calls Karzai on Christian Convert's Fate
Thursday, March 23, 2006
WASHINGTON — Concerned about the fate of a Christian convert in Afghanistan on trial for his life, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday seeking a "favorable resolution" of the case.
"This is a very deeply concerning development in Afghanistan and we have raised it at the highest levels,” Rice said during a press conference with the Greek minister of foreign affairs. “We look forward, hopefully, to a resolution to this in the very near future."
Abdul Rahman, 41, a medical aid worker, converted from Islam to Christianity 16 years ago, a fact that came out publicly during a civil custody case between him and his wife in front of local authorities. The authorities charged him with rejecting Islam, a crime under the country's Shar'ia-based law. The penalty, if guilty, is death.
Rice said religious freedom is the heart of democracy, a principle she hopes Afghanistan would uphold in its constitution in considering Rahman's case.
“We have raised it in the strongest possible terms to make clear that it is our great hope and desire that Afghanistan will reaffirm what is already in its constitution, that the universal declaration on human rights will be respected, and that this will be resolved in a way that is consistent with those principles," Rice said.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack reported that Rice underlined to Karzai the "fact that the United States stands forthrightly for principles of freedom of worship, freedom of expression, and that these are bedrock principles of democracy around the world, these are principles that are enshrined in the Afghan constitution and they're principles that are enshrined in the U.N. Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
"We're looking for a favorable resolution at the earliest possible time," McCormack added.
On Wednesday, President Bush said he was troubled by the possible decapitation of Rahman.
"I'm troubled when I hear, deeply troubled when I hear, the fact that a person who converted away from Islam may be held to account. That's not the universal application of the values that I talked about. I look forward to working with the government of that country to make sure that people are protected in their capacity to worship," Bush said.
At the White House on Thursday, spokesman Scott McClellan said he was aware of Rice's call, but had not gotten a readout yet of the content. He said the administration will continue to stay in close contact with the Afghan government "and work with them to make sure that people's religious freedoms are protected."
In deference to the country's sovereignty, Rice evidently did not demand specifically that the trial be halted and the defendant released.
"This is clearly an Afghan decision to take. They are a sovereign government. It's a sovereign country. But as I pointed out, we believe that it is important that as the issue is resolved, that those fundamental principles of freedom of religion, freedom of expression are affirmed in the resolution of this case," McCormack said.
Still, her direct appeal to a foreign leader in a proceeding in his country is an unusual move. Rice also spoke to outgoing Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah earlier this week. Abdullah is in Washington, D.C., where he spoke Thursday at American University.
In the question and answer session, Abdullah said that he didn't want this situation to happen, but Afghanistan's exercise of its judicial system is in line with the constitution and its development of a democratic nation.
"We're aware of the fact that there might be different interpretation. It was not in the executive branch, it has been in the judicial. What are the options for the president and for the government, I'm not going to comment on that. I'm sure there will be a solution," he said.
In Afghanistan, Supreme Court judge Ansarullah Mawlavizada told Reuters that "Afghanistan is an Islamic country and its judiciary will act independently and neutrally. ... No other policy will be accepted apart from Islamic orders and what our constitution says."
Amnesty International also weighed in on the trial, demanding Rahman's release.
"No individual should ever be persecuted — let alone executed — for his or her religious beliefs. The freedom to practice one's own faith without fear of retribution is one of humanity's most sacred rights. If Rahman has been imprisoned solely because he converted to Christianity, he must be immediately and unconditionally released," said Amnesty International Executive Director William F. Schulz.
Separately, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist urged Rice to "use every diplomatic means necessary" to ensure Rahman's immediate release.
"I am greatly concerned by Mr. Rahman's prosecution and the challenge his case presents to the future of Afghanistan. It is fair to say that the United States has not spent the last four plus years liberating, defending, rebuilding and assisting Afghanistan's democratic development only to see the Afghani people remain subject to laws reminiscent of the Taliban's reign," Frist said.
Rahman is believed to have lived in Germany for nine years after converting to Christianity while working for an international Christian group helping Afghan refugees in Pakistan. He returned to Kabul in 2002.
It was not immediately clear when Rahman's trial will resume. He is not believed to have a lawyer.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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U.S. Backs Afghan Man Who Converted to Christianity
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
WASHINGTON — The Bush administration issued a subdued appeal Tuesday to Afghanistan to permit a Christian convert on trial for his life to practice his faith in the predominantly Muslim country.
The State Department, however, did not urge the U.S. ally in the war against terrorism to terminate the trial. Officials said the Bush administration did not want to interfere with Afghanistan's sovereignty.
The case involves an Afghan man who converted from Islam and was arrested last month after his family accused him of becoming a Christian. The conversion is a crime under Afghanistan's Islamic laws.
Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns and department spokesman Sean McCormack asked Afghanistan to conduct the trial "in a transparent way." Burns said he told Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, with whom he held talks at the department, that "we would follow the case closely."
At a joint news conference, pressed by reporters, Abdullah said he hoped "through our constitutional process there will be a satisfactory result." He did not say whether the defendant, Abdul Rahman, 41, would be found innocent.
Abdullah said officials of his government "know that it is a very sensitive issue and we know the concerns of the American people." He said the Afghan Embassy in Washington had received hundreds of messages of concern.
The Bush administration went to war four years ago, ousting the Taliban rulers in Afghanistan, and then joined with other countries to help steer the nation to constitutional rule. About 18,000 U.S. troops are on duty there, and more than 200 have died.
"Our government is a great supporter of freedom of religion," Burns said. "As the Afghan constitution affords freedom of religion to all Afghan citizens, we hope very much that those rights, the right of freedom of religion, will be upheld in an Afghan court."
Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., released a letter he said he had sent to Afghan President Hamid Karzai expressing dismay over the case.
"In a country where soldiers from all faiths, including Christianity, are dying in defense of your government, I find it outrageous that Mr. Rahman is being prosecuted and facing the death penalty for converting to Christianity, which he did 16 years ago before your government even existed," Lantos wrote.
German and Italian officials have voiced concern, too.
State Department spokesman McCormack contrasted the government in Kabul with its fundamentalist predecessor.
"Under the Taliban, anybody considered an apostate was subject to torture and death," he said. "Right now, you have a legal proceeding that is under way in Afghanistan."
McCormack said the administration underscored to Abdullah "that we believe tolerance and freedom of worship are important elements of any democracy.

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World Leaders Protest Rahman Death Penalty

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